Newest 7th District candidate Hunter comes with plenty of baggage

The blogosphere has been lighting up with speculation about the last minute entry of former 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, into the Seventh District Congressional race.

The Billy Long is Wrong blog suggests Hunter's candidacy is a master stroke by Long strategist Jeff Roe to put someone in the race who is more ethically challenged than Long to draw away some of the attention. (Though so far the ethics complaints against Long seem rather minor in nature.) The blog features the following passage:

Billy Long now faces three ethics complaints. How does one take the focus off their candidate who faces a potential battle with the Federal Election Commission? You convince another candidate without a chance to run for the same office, a candidate with both local and federal corruption issues himself to take the focus of Long's own problems. This could very well be the plan with the late addition of Steve Hunter, the latest Republican running for Missouri 7.

The blogger Bungalow Bill looks upon Hunter as a stalking horse to draw votes away from Sen. Gary Nodler in his home Joplin area:

So what is the strategy? Hunter knows the last man on the ballot is worth three points minimum, or is there another strategy in this race. Could he have entered to take votes away from Gary Nodler in Joplin (Jasper/Newton) to help another candidate in the race? It does set up some possibilities. So is he a serious candidate or not

?

Most of the writing about Hunter's problems have centered around the legal battles his wife, former Jasper County Public Administrator Rita Hunter, is facing, but as longtime Turner Report readers know, Hunter's ethical problems have been a longstanding issue.

Hunter was a magnet for lobbyists from his first day in Jefferson City until his tenure was ended by term limits. In the Nov. 8, 2008 Turner Report, I noted that the Hunters were treated to a Tina Turner concert by Ameristar Casino lobbyists Gamble & Schlemeier,Oct. 8, 2008, when he had only two months left in the legislature. It was the last of thousands in freebies from the casino industry.

From the Sept. 25, 2004, Turner Report:

One of the important duties of every state legislator is taking fact-finding missions to see first-hand some of the problems that face his constituents.

Apparently, 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter takes that obligation seriously. Though the nature of his fact-finding missions was not spelled out in documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Hunter accepted travel expenses from lobbyist Sarah Topp on three occasions this year. He accepted travel expenses from lobbyist William Gamble one other time.

Though Ms. Topp and Gamble represent a number of clients, including the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Ethics Commission records indicate the travel money to Hunter came courtesy of the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City. Ms. Topp and Gamble also represent all of the interests of Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based company which only recently moved its operations into this state.

On Jan. 22, Hunter accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, according to Ethics Commission records. He also accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, indicating he most likely went to the same place, as well as $125 for meals, food, and beverage from Ms. Topp on Feb. 20, $138 in travel expenses from her on March 8, and $455 for meals, food and beverage on March 20.
Hunter accepted an additional $250 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 28, according to the Ethics Commission records. Legislators are allowed to amend the records if they pay the lobbyists back, though the original expenditure remains. The Ethics Commission records show that none of Ameristar Casinos' gifts to Hunter have been paid back.

Hunter was the only legislator to receive gifts from Ms. Topp in February and the only representative (there were three senators) who received gifts in March, records indicate.

The $1,150.64 Hunter received from the gambling interest is more money than any other area legislator has received from all lobbyists' gifts combined.

Hunter's lobbyist-financed casino trips were just the tip of the iceberg. It was not long before Hunter was not only accepting gifts from lobbyists, but to all intents and purposes became one, while still serving as a legislator.

From the Feb. 1, 2009 Turner Report:

Though he has not officially registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission, The Turner Report has heard that former 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, is going to join the growing list of those making the leap from legislator to lobbyist.

it should not be much of a leap for Hunter, who worked for lobbying organization Associated Industries of Missouri during much of his tenure in the House.

You may recall that Hunter broke ties with AIM in June, blaming the media for creating the impression that he could actually be swayed in his vote just because he was being paid by a lobbying group. I wrote this in the June 15, 2007 Turner Report:

After four years of double dealing as a state representative and an employee of a lobbying group, Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, has done the right thing and severed his ties with Associated Industries of Missouri.

Unfortunately the problem, according to Hunter, has never been with his conflict-ridden extra source of income, but with the media who have questioned his integrity, according to this passage, which a reader sent me from the Kansas City Star's pay-for-view Prime Time Buzz:

"I got tired of reading about it in the damn newspaper," Hunter said when asked why he resigned his post, effective May 1. "I’d been accused by the labor unions and the state chamber (of commerce) of having a conflict."

Hunter, a Joplin Republican who heads a House committee that examines worker's compensation issues, took the job in 2003. Associated Industries of Missouri, which describes itself as a "pro-business lobbying team," was closely involved in passage of legislation tightening worker's compensation laws in 2005.


Contrary to Hunter's opinion, his second job, definitely was a conflict of interest, as has been noted numerous times over the past few years in The Turner Report. To recount, consider this passage from the July 15, 2005, post:

Hunter has done a 360-degree turnaround in the type of bills he has sponsored since his first term in the House.
During his first three years as a representative, Hunter did not sponsor any business legislation. Then three weeks after the end of the 2003 General Assembly, he found a new job as a membership recruiter for Associated Industries of Missouri, a powerful pro-business lobbying organization. And that is not just my term for it. As Susan Redden's Globe article noted, AIM spells out exactly what it does on its website. It represents the "interests of Missouri employers before the General Assembly, state agencies, the courts, and the public."
Financial disclosure forms filed by Hunter with the Missouri Ethics Commission indicate that he was employed by Associated Industries of Missouri in 2003 and 2004 and received at least $1,000 from it in both years. Unfortunately, all officeholders are required to state on these forms is if they received $1,000, they do not have to be specific.
It would be safe to speculate that if Steve Hunter was not the chairman of the House Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee he would not have been the first person AIM would have thought about hiring. That committee, of course, deals with the workers compensation legislation that AIM and Missouri businesses have been pushing and finally succeeded in passing.
Perhaps Hunter wrote every word of that bill himself. He is certainly an intelligent man. But it would not be a stretch of the imagination to believe that AIM staff could have been very helpful in constructing the pro-business legislation.
Hunter sponsored that bill as a representative for this area, then put on his other hat after the end of the legislative session and spoke at eight "Lunch and Learn" presentations put on by Associated Industries across the state, speaking as an AIM employee to explain what he had done for the organization as a legislator.
Hunter sponsored three other bills designed to cripple labor unions in the state, which did not get anywhere.


And the same anti-union bills were sponsored by Hunter during the 2006 and 2007 legislative sessions.

And there is more to the Steve Hunter story, but I will save that for another time.

Hunter piles up lobbyist gifts in May

If Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, had not received a single meal or gift from a lobbyist until April 15, he still would have received more gifts than 144 of the 163 state legislators.
This was made possible by a flurry of May gifts, filed in a second report from Hunter. As I mentioned in the June 6 Turner Report, at that time, Hunter had claimed just one lobbyist gift, $32 in meals, food and beverage from Heath Clarkston, lobbyist for the Home Builders Association of Missouri.
Since that time, Hunter has filed a report with the Missouri Ethics Commission, saying he received $971.35 in gifts during May.
Surprisingly enough, six of those gifts came before May 10, the day he received the meal from Clarkston.
The month's freeloading fest began May 3 when Samuel G. Licklider, who lists Empire District Electric Company as a client, spent $167.50 on "meals, food and beverage." Apparently, Hunter did not have to pay for any of his meals on that day since Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University lobbyist is credited with paying $30 for "meals, food and beverage" and Carl Degen, lobbyist for Associated Builders and Contractors paid an additional $97.38 for "meals, food and beverage." Apparently, no Big Mac and a coke for the Joplin Republican.
After receiving $294.88 for meals on May 3, Hunter topped that in one fell swoop the next day when Steve Jackson, whose clients include Argosy Gaming and the St. Louis Cardinals bought Hunter $331.29 in "meals, food and beverage."
Meals were back down to a manageable total on May 9 when Ginger Steinmetz, lobbyist for the city of Joplin, paid $20. The next day, it was even more reasonable when James W. Kistler paid $7.23 for a meal for Hunter. That would seem odd since Kistler is a lobbyist for Associated Industries of Missouri. As revealed earlier this week in The Turner Report, Hunter works for Associated Industries of Missouri, a lobbying organization, as a recruiter. Apparently, he must have recruited someone who could buy him lunch.
After Clarkston's $32.91 on the same day, Hunter received "meals, food and beverage" worth $53.10 from Craig Overfelt, representing the Missouri Bankers Association. His report for the remainder of the month includes $168 in entertainment from Thomas Irwin, lobbyist for the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and $30.94 from James Farrell, who represents a number of St. Louis interests.
The late activity continued a pattern started early in the 2005 legislative session by Hunter when he accepted $56 worth of entertainment from University of Missouri lobbyist Allen James Snider; and $159.09 in "meals, food and beverage" from Robert W. Wilson, who lobbies for numerous interests across the state in January.
Hunter's February reports included $112.59 in "meals, food and beverage" on Feb. 14 from J. Scott Marrs, lobbyist for the Missouri Hospital Association and the city of Springfield, and $188.94 in "travel" from Ameristar Casino lobbyist William Gamble on Feb. 17. Hunter has a long record of receiving gifts from Ameristar, which I will explore shortly.
Hunter received no gifts from lobbyists in March, according to the Ethics Commission reports April gifts included $85 for entertainment and $39.75 for meals, food and beverage on April 2 from Jeffrey Kipping, Cingular Wireless lobbyist. Two days later, Kipping provided Hunter with $85 in entertainment and $16.41 in meals, food and beverage.
The April reports also featured $112.59 in meals, food and beverage from Sam Barbee, Missouri Automobile Dealers Association on April 15, and $118.93 in meals, food and beverage from Chris Liese, whose clients include the Isle of Capri Casinos on April 21.

Ameristar invested in Hunter in 2004
This is not the first year that Hunter has been a happy recipient of lobbyists' largesse. The following posting was made on The Turner Report on Sept. 25, 2004:

One of the important duties of every state legislator is taking fact-finding missions to see first-hand some of the problems that face his constituents.
Apparently, 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter takes that obligation seriously. Though the nature of his fact-finding missions was not spelled out in documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Hunter accepted travel expenses from lobbyist Sarah Topp on three occasions this year. He accepted travel expenses from lobbyist William Gamble one other time.
Though Ms. Topp and Gamble represent a number of clients, including the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Ethics Commission records indicate the travel money to Hunter came courtesy of the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City. Ms. Topp and Gamble also represent all of the interests of Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based company which only recently moved its operations into this state.
On Jan. 22, Hunter accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, according to Ethics Commission records. He also accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, indicating he most likely went to the same place, as well as $125 for meals, food, and beverage from Ms. Topp on Feb. 20, $138 in travel expenses from her on March 8, and $455 for meals, food and beverage on March 20.
Hunter accepted an additional $250 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 28, according to the Ethics Commission records. Legislators are allowed to amend the records if they pay the lobbyists back, though the original expenditure remains. The Ethics Commission records show that none of Ameristar Casinos' gifts to Hunter have been paid back.
Hunter was the only legislator to receive gifts from Ms. Topp in February and the only representative (there were three senators) who received gifts in March, records indicate.
The $1,150.64 Hunter received from the gambling interest is more money than any other area legislator has received from all lobbyists' gifts combined.
And the gifts just keep coming.Ethics Commission records indicate Hunter has been receiving "meals, food, and beverage" from a number of lobbyists on a fairly regular basis. These include:-$84, Jan. 22 from William F. Waris and Ginger Steinmetz. Waris represents a number of health concerns, while Ms. Steinmetz is a lobbyist for the city of Joplin.-$9.60 the same day from Michael Goessling, another lobbyist for health and insurance companies.-$65 Feb. 17 from James Kistler representing Associated Industries of Missouri, $43.69 March 2 from Kent Gaines. who represents Premium Standard Farms and Monsanto, among other interests.-$124.16 on Feb. 18, and $67.26 on March 16 from Tom Rackers, who represents insurance interests.-$30 March 30 from Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University lobbyist.-$55.96 April 13 from Samuel Licklider, Empire District Electric lobbyist-$35.50 the same day from David Martin, also representing Empire District.-$64.50 April 26 from Greg Johnson, an insurance lobbyist.-$46.38 May 5 from Daniel Mehan of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.-$70 May 14 from Randy Scherr, city of Joplin.
Hunter also received $120.20 for "entertainment" from John Kristan Jones, an MCI lobbyist, on June 24, according to Ethics Commission records. He received $60 for "entertainment" from a Matthew Kohly on Jan. 24. Information on who Kohly represents wasn't available.With the legislature in session for approximately 75 days between January and early May, Hunter received gifts of "meals, food, and beverage' from lobbyists on 30 days.
Hunter also topped GOP in 2004
In January, I reported that Hunter received more gifts from lobbyists than any other Republican during the 2004 legislative session. He actually did not receive as much this time, according to Ethics Commission records.
Here is what was featured in The Turner Report at the beginning of the year:

The final figures are in for 2004 and 127th District Representative Steve Hunter completed his meteoric rise at the top of the state's Republican party.
According to statistics available from the Missouri Ethics Commission, no Republican accepted more gifts from lobbyists than Hunter during the past calendar year. Hunter's reports indicate that he accepted $3,322.14 worth of meals, travel expenses, and other considerations from lobbyists, with most of the gifts being connected to lobbyists representing Ameristar Casinos.
The gifts didn't stop coming when the legislative session ended in May, according to reports filed by Hunter with the commission. He has received $982.96 worth of gifts since June 1.Two Democratic representatives, Rodney Hubbard of St. Louis with $4,119.29, and Connie Johnson of Jefferson City with $3,468.53, were the only ones to top Hunter's figures. The Carl Junction Republican barely edged out new Speaker of the House Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, who received $3,096.06.

The final figures are in for 2004 and 127th District Representative Steve Hunter completed his meteoric rise at the top of the state's Republican party.
According to statistics available from the Missouri Ethics Commission, no Republican accepted more gifts from lobbyists than Hunter during the past calendar year. Hunter's reports indicate that he accepted $3,322.14 worth of meals, travel expenses, and other considerations from lobbyists, with most of the gifts being connected to lobbyists representing Ameristar Casinos.
The gifts didn't stop coming when the legislative session ended in May, according to reports filed by Hunter with the commission. He received $982.96 worth of gifts since June 1.
Two Democratic representatives, Rodney Hubbard of St. Louis with $4,119.29, and Connie Johnson of Jefferson City with $3,468.53, were the only ones to top Hunter's figures. The Carl Junction Republican barely edged out new Speaker of the House Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, who received $3,096.06.
Hunter received more gifts from lobbyists than Kevin Wilson, Marilyn Ruestman, and Ed Emery combined, though Ron Richard of Joplin with $1,752.48, and Bryan Stevenson of Webb City with $1,770.14 also did well.
Ms. Ruestman received $229.09, Wilson $871.69, and Emery $583.52.
While Hunter received a great deal from lobbyists after the legislative session ended, Richard has received nothing, Wilson $21.87 worth of gifts, Ms. Ruestman $61.50 and Emery $196.74.
The influence of the casino lobbyists on both Democrats and Republicans was obvious from the reports filed by the legislators. Nearly every representative who received more than $1,000 worth of gifts from lobbyists, received a sizable portion of that money from Ameristar lobbyists.
Hunter accepted travel expenses from lobbyist Sarah Topp on three occasions in 2004. He accepted travel expenses from lobbyist William Gamble one other time.Though Ms. Topp and Gamble represent a number of clients, including the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Ethics Commission records indicate the travel money to Hunter came courtesy of the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City. Ms. Topp and Gamble also represent all of the interests of Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based company which only recently moved its operations into this state.On Jan. 22, Hunter accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, according to Ethics Commission records. He also accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, indicating he most likely went to the same place, as well as $125 for meals, food, and beverage from Ms. Topp on Feb. 20, $138 in travel expenses from her on March 8, and $455 for meals, food and beverage on March 20.Hunter accepted an additional $250 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 28, according to the Ethics Commission records. Legislators are allowed to amend the records if they pay the lobbyists back, though the original expenditure remains. The Ethics Commission records show that none of Ameristar Casinos' gifts to Hunter have been paid back.
Hunter was the only legislator to receive gifts from Ms. Topp in February and the only representative (there were three senators) who received gifts in March, records indicate.The $1,150.64 Hunter received from the gambling interest was more money than any other area legislator, except Richard, received from all lobbyists' gifts combined.
Former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway received $1,464.85 worth of gifts from lobbyists, including travel expenses of $142.54 on March 29 and $168.50 on March 23, both from Jorgen Schlemeier, an Ameristar lobbyist. On June 12, she received $219.68 for travel from Sarah Topp, the same lobbyist who provided Hunter with most of his gifts.
Current House Speaker Jetton had his travel expenses covered by seven lobbyists on July 13, with each contributing $34.33, or close to $250 total, according to the Ethics Commission records. All seven lobbyists are registered as working for Ameristar. Apparently, Jetton believes taking one-seventh of the amount from seven different lobbyists looks better than receiving a large outlay from one lobbyist.
Jetton also received $124.04 for travel from the appropriately-named Ameristar lobbyist William Gamble on Nov. 18, $117.17 from Miss Topp for travel on Aug. 24, $116.87 for travel from Gamble on July 22.
Rodney Hubbard of St. Louis accepted $709.90 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 9. Hubbard was an equal-opportunity proponent, also taking travel expenses three times from lobbyists from Harrah's Entertainment, another casino interest.
Connie Johnson of St. Louis apparently has a great appetite for lobbyists' gifts. Ms. Johnson received $627.35 for meals, food, and beverage, from Jorgen Schlieman on May 28.
Other legislators receiving large amounts from Ameristar included:
-Tom Dempsey, Republican Majority Floor Leader, St. Charles- $3,026.89 from all lobbyists, including $113.71 for travel from Gamble on Oct. 13, $250 for travel from Ms. Topp on June 7, $274.50 for travel from Gamble on May 18, and $135 for travel from Ms. Topp in January.
-Esther Haywood, Democrat, St. Louis- $1,356.08 from all lobbyists, $200 for travel from Jorgen Schlemeier on June 10.
-Robin Wright Jones, Democrat, St. Louis- $1,532.94 from all lobbyists, $200 for travel from Schlemeier on June 10.
-Joe Smith, Republican, St. Charles- $2,453.06 from all lobbyists, including $275.82 for travel from Ms. Topp, June 27, $101 for meals from Gamble on April 27, $327.14 for travel and $117.16 for meals from Schlemeier on March 27 and March 30, respectively, and $135 for travel from Ms. Topp on Jan. 10.
-Brian Yates, Republican, Lee's Summit- $2,228.94 from all lobbyists, including $125.58 from Ms. Topp for meals on Aug. 31.
***
I reported in the Jan. 4 Turner Report that Dish Network would be raising its prices as of Feb. 1 and noted the hypocrisy of the company that has been jumping all over cable for its annual rate hikes, raising its own prices after just 12 months. An Associated Press article indicates that the situation is much worse than that. Apparently, Dish Network has had five rate hikes in the past five years, according to the article.
***
Two prominent southwest Missourians have been proposed for honors by State Representative Marilyn Ruestman. Ms. Ruestman has submitted bills which would honor the late songwriter Albert Brumley of Powell, writer of the classic "I'll Fly Away," and Ms. Ruestman's mentor, former Seventh District Congressman Mel Hancock.
House Bill 154 would designate a portion of I-44 in Greene County from state route MM, exit 70, east to state route 286, exit 72, as the "Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway."
House Bill 155 would designate a portion of Highway E in McDonald County from the Arkansas state line north to Highway 76 as "Albert Brumley Memorial Highway.' The bill stipulates that all signs would be paid for, put up and maintained by Albert E. Brumley and Sons, Inc.
***
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today (Jan. 5) that the Golden City R-3 School District in Barton County will receive a $71,700 low-interest loan for lighting upgrades. The loan and six others which were announced, is administered by the MDNR's Energy Loan Program.
***
Attorneys representing Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn, Presiding Commissioner Chuck Surface, Associate Commissioner Jim Honey, and former Associate Commissioner Anna Ruth Crampton have filed a motion in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri asking to be allowed to question convicted child molester Martin Anthony Eck.
Eck is suing the county officials claiming he didn't receive proper dental care while he was in the county jail.
Eck pleaded guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court in November to two counts of statutory sodomy in connection with incidents involving a 12-year-old girl. The Joplin Globe reported that Eck had been convicted of child molestation 11 years ago in Gordon County, GA. He was sentenced to 20 years, but the sentence was suspended and he was allowed to move to Joplin a few years later, where he was under the supervision of the probation office here, according to the article. Eck, 41, Joplin, is asking for $100 million. Eck told what happened to him in his petition. 'I arrived at Jasper County Jail on April 2, 2004,' he wrote. 'I told the booking officer that I had bad teeth that needed taken care of. I was told at that time Jasper County Jail did not have a dentist. I filed a grievance on May 12, 2004, and got no response. I told the nurse numerous times and have written the sheriff on July 15, 2004." 'I still have not seen a dentist. As I understand it, it is the County Commission's job to make sure health care is available. It's been four months, still no dentist.' " Eck has been allowed to filed as a pauper, meaning that his effort to seek compensation for his dental problems will be funded by Missouri taxpayers.
The attorneys for the county officials have asked to interview Eck, according to their motion, because "it is vital to the defense of this litigation that defendants understand specifically what the plaintiff contends transpired during his incarceration in 2004 at the Jasper County Jail."

Hubbard, Cooper top Turner Report Hall of Shame

Talk about your multi-talented state representatives.
Entertainment, travel, meals, Rep. Rodney Hubbard, D-St. Louis, does it all, and is raking in lobbyists' gifts at an impressive pace. In fact, at the end of August he had already received $4,434.70 worth, or nearly $1,000 more than his nearest competitor, Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, who had $3,463.30.

That mammoth figures places Hubbard, a state senate candidate, atop The Turner Report Hall of Shame. Trailing Hubbard and Cooper were:

3. Michael Spreng, D-Florissant, $3,387.37
4. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, $3,033.54
5. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, $2,899.76
6. Ted Hoskins, D-Berkeley, $2,836.10
7. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, $2,732.69
8. Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis, $2,627.43
9. Neal St. Onge, R-Ellisville, $2,545.88
10. Dr. Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin, $2,540.81

Shockingly, 49 representatives have received at least $1,000 in gifts, and another two dozen should easily reach that total by the end of the year.

Hubbard owes much of his total to lobbyists for the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield.

Hubbard was one of the first recipients of gifts from newly-minted lobbyist, and former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, who paid $100 for entertainment (a ballgame) and $27 for meals for Hubbard on Aug. 31. The previous day, another Sinquefield lobbyist, Travis Brown, paid $82.50 for travel for Hubbard, though the amount was credited to the Brown Lobby Firm.

On May 19, Hubbard received $1,000.81 in entertainment (tickets) from Missouri Automobile Dealers Association lobbyist Jay Reichard, who shares many clients with Andrew Blunt. On Aug. 10, another MADA lobbyist, Sam Barbee, provided $100 in 'event tickets" for Hubbard and on July 11 Barbee provided him with $125.50 in travel expenses.

Ameren UE picked up the tab for a Hubbard meal June 19, paying $88.90, though it looks smaller on the Ethics Commission disclosure form, since lobbyists William Gamble and Tina Shannon split the cost, paying $44.45 apiece. Gamble bought eight meals for the St. Louis Democrat, but did not "wine and dine" him, as he made clear on the Ethics Commission documents. Gamble always made a note saying he bought non-alcoholic beverages, juice, or carbonated beverages.

Shannon Cooper- May 9 was a big night for freebies for Shannon Cooper. He accepted five Kenny Chesney tickets worth $345 from Stephen Knorr, University of Missouri lobbyist, and $343 in travel and lodging from Ameristar Casinos lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier, though Schlemeier only attributed a part of the cost to Ameristar, since it was the last day of the legislative session, it appears Cooper did quite a bit of celebrating.
Cooper also received a ticket to a Gordon Lightfoot concert, worth $50 from James R. Moody, representing Carlson Gardner of Springfield.
Cooper's gifts also included Missouri wine, valued at $15, from lobbyist William Shoehigh, representing United Health Care.
Cooper also took a cruise provided by Ameristar Casinos lobbyist Sarah Topp during the National Conference of State Legislators in August.

Michael Spreng- When it comes to lobbyist gifts, it appears that Spreng hopes eternal. That wishing and hoping came to pass during a three-day period in February, when AT&T lobbyist Craig Felzien provided Spreng with $200 worth of Fox tickets, whatever those are, and $600 worth of hockey tickets.

Spreng's major sugar daddy, however, is Samuel Licklider, lobbyist for the Missori Association of Realtors. Ethics Commission documents indicate Licklider has provided the Florissant Democrat with 13 meals, totaling $1,422.14, meaning the meals averaged more than $100, with the big one, costing $225.92, taking place April 25, as well as a $219.82 meal on May 15.

Mike Talboy- During a 13-day period in June, Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, collected $1,136 in lobbyists' gifts, including tickets for all four days, four sessions, of the College Baseball World Series in Omaha, Neb., paid for by Madeline Romious of AT&T, at a cost of $368.
Three days earlier, Talboy, apparently a sports fan, not only received a Kansas City Royals ticket worth $35 from Fred J. Dreiling, listed as coming from his lobbying firm, and a $29 sports ticket, game not specified, from the Burton-Liese lobbying firm.
It was not all fun and games for Talboy, the Ethics Commission documents indicate. On June 23 and 24, Sara Schuett, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, paid for lodging and "continuing education credits" for Talboy at a cost of $624.35.

Steve Hunter- At one time, most of Hunter's gifts came from Ameristar Casinos lobbyists, but he has diversified his portfolio over the past few years.
That being said, Ameristar still plays a role, including $216 worth of concert tickets provided by Ameristar lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier on March 31. Ameristar lobbyist Sarah Topp provided a $100.86 meal in January. Hunter's other gifts included the Kenny Chesney tickets for himself and his wife, Rita, from MU lobbyist Stephen Knorr.

(A closer look at numbers 6-10 will be featured later in The Turner Report Pictured- Rodney Hubbard, Shannon Cooper, Michael Spreng, Mike Talboy, Steve Hunter, Ted Hoskins, Jim Lembke, Connie Johnson, Neal St. Onge, Dr. Charles Portwood)

Casino trip helps Hunter near $3,000 mark

He's back to his old tricks.
Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, apparently went on a legislative fact-finding mission June 9, courtesy of Betsy Morgan, lobbyist for Ameristar Casino. Lobbyist disclosure forms posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate Ms. Morgan spent $151.03 on travel for Hunter.
Of that total, $75.52 was credited to the Missouri Beverage Association, with the other $75.51 credited to Ameristar Casino. That gift brought Hunter's total to $2,934.29 for the first six months of 2006, more than the other five Joplin-area legislators combined.
The only other Joplin-area representative to even accepted a lobbyist gift during June, according to the reports, was Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, who accepted a $5.16 meal from Kevin Vossen, representing AT&T. So far, Wilson has accepted $384.19 from lobbyists this year.
The other Joplin-area representatives and their amounts for the first six months are:
Ed Emery, R-Lamar, $102.51; Ron Richard, R-Joplin, $720.20; Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, $101.22; and Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, $837.
Allowing Ameristar Casino to foot the bill for his travel is nothing new for Hunter, as has been pointed out numerous times in Turner Report posts going back to 2004, including this blast from the past from the Sept. 25, 2004, Turner Report:

"Though the nature of his fact-finding missions was not spelled out in documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Hunter accepted travel expenses from lobbyist Sarah Topp on three occasions this year. He accepted travel expenses from lobbyist William Gamble one other time.
"Though Ms. Topp and Gamble represent a number of clients, including the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Ethics Commission records indicate the travel money to Hunter came courtesy of the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City. Ms. Topp and Gamble also represent all of the interests of Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based company which only recently moved its operations into this state.
"On Jan. 22, Hunter accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, according to Ethics Commission records. He also accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, indicating he most likely went to the same place, as well as $125 for meals, food, and beverage from Ms. Topp on Feb. 20, $138 in travel expenses from her on March 8, and $455 for meals, food and beverage on March 20.
"Hunter accepted an additional $250 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 28, according to the Ethics Commission records. Hunter was the only legislator to receive gifts from Ms. Topp in February and the only representative (there were three senators) who received gifts in March, records indicate.
"The $1,150.64 Hunter received from the gambling interest is more money than any other area legislator has received from all lobbyists' gifts combined. And the gifts just keep coming."

Apparently, everything old is new again.

Last Sunday's Joplin Globe featured an incredibly long investigative report on six dead voters who somehow cast ballots in recent elections in Jasper and McDonald counties. It was an interesting report, no doubt about it, but what was so interesting about it that it merited a large chunk of page one, as well as an entire page inside?
If there had been an epidemic of dead people voting (and you have to wonder based on the results of some elections), then yes, it would have been worth the space. In this case, there were only six, granted that is six too many, and in nearly every case there was a reasonable explanation of how that vote might have occurred. In one case, it was obvious that the deceased man's son, who has the same name, voted. In others, it was apparent that an election worker marked a name on the wrong line. No corruption was apparent. If it makes election officials decide to keep the actual ballots longer, then the space devoted to this investigation might be worth it. Otherwise, it appears to be much ado about nothing.
So why the considerable amount of space. It would appear the Globe spent a large amount of money to come up with these results, buying a database of voters for these elections, and felt it had to devote that much space to justify the cost. The Globe's editors spent money on a fishing expedition, probably inspired by some other paper which did the same thing and came up with considerably different results.
What the Globe came up with for its efforts was an interesting story. Nothing wrong with that, but there are other stories the Globe could be looking at (and hopefully are) that could make a real difference. Some of those have been addressed in The Turner Report.
A few weeks ago, The Turner Report featured an investigation on the gifts that 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter has been accepting from Ameristar Casinos.
First, I should mention that Rep. Hunter has received $2,852.86 worth of gifts from lobbyists, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Of that total, $1,832.68 came from lobbyists who list Ameristar Casinos as one of their clients. Hunter's total of gifts received from lobbyists is nearly three times as much as any other area legislator. The next highest total, according to Commission records, is the $973.32 received by Rep. Ron Richard. The $1,832.68 from casino lobbyists alone is nearly twice as much as Richard received from all lobbyists.
If you examine the records just of Rep. Hunter, you won't find the total that I gave above. You will wind up about $250 short. However, by examining the lobbyists' records, it turns out that Ameristar paid $250 to Hunter and an additional $250 to Hunter's wife, Jasper County Public Administrator candidate Rita Hunter, for "travel" purposes.
If you want a more detailed list of the gifts given to Rep. Hunter, check out the September Turner Report archives.
Though Hunter is not the only representative who has been the object of Ameristar's affections, he is the only one from this area. While examining the records, I saw some other representatives and senators who have received gifts time after time from Ameristar. Many of them have family members and staff members who have also received travel, entertainment, and meal and beverage gifts from the gambling giant.
I would love to see The Globe get one of its databases and spreadsheets and work out just how much these legislators have received and how they have voted on legislation that affects the gambling industry.
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With its vast resources, the Globe could also be checking into some other glaring problems in this area, many of which have been brought up in The Turner Report and in other area news/commentary sites, such as Neoshoforums.com, Diamondtownforums.com, Senecaforums.com, and Lamarmo.com
The Globe has touched on the controversy surrounding Newton County Sheriff Ron Doerge, but to this point has only done it in the outdated get a quote from this guy, then get a quote from his opponent style. No digging, no public service.
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How about the obvious problems in the Diamond R-4 School District. The nepotism situation there, if not illegal, is definitely worth an investigative report. How does this affect the school and the perception of the school? Have people with more experience been released from jobs while family members remained safe in their positions? And what about the obvious manipulation by Superintendent Mark Mayo? How can he get rid of two elementary teachers for budget reasons, then find the money to keep the positions and not offer them to the people who were fired?
And what about the lawsuit against Edison Schools? East Newton, Sarcoxie, and McDonald County have had profitable summer schools run by Newton Learning, the summer school arm of Edison. How is it that Diamond is the only school dissatisfied. Mayo, in his communications with the media, named other schools that were dissatisfied, but as far as I can tell, those schools never contracted with Edison to run a summer school. Why hasn't the Globe examined this issue. It doesn't appear it would take anywhere near as much time and money as the dead voter investigation took. Of course, the dead voter investigation could have ended up winning journalism prizes if it had panned out.
Sticking with the Diamond R-4 School District, how about the fraud investigation into two teachers who have allegedly defrauded the state school retirement fund...it appears with the complete approval of school officials.
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Or how about a complete investigation into the success or failure of school districts across the nation that have instituted drug testing policies. Surely there are enough who have done so by now to find out how they have worked. And don't just limit the investigation to school officials. They are unlikely to admit it if the program has gone south. Also check with law enforcement officials, crime records, and dropout records. Has the drug usage gone down because many of the drug users are being encouraged to leave the school system?
And while we're at it, why not look at school districts that have tried other methods to curb drug usage, without resorting to curbing civil liberties? How are those methods working? With so many schools going with this latest educational fad, maybe it is time for a newspaper to conduct a wide-ranging investigation.
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I could name a dozen other subjects that are worthy of investigations, most of which would take nowhere near the time, effort, and money that the dead voter investigation took, but you get the point.
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The second round of bidding has reportedly begun in the auction of Liberty Group Publishing, the company that owns The Neosho Daily News, The Carthage Press, The Neosho Post, and The Big Nickel, in addition to more than 300 other U. S. publications. The company is expected to fetch a price in the neighborhood of $500 million.
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The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported this week that Calphalon, a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid, is moving its corporate headquarters to Atlanta. The move is the latest being made by Newell Rubbermaid to consolidate its operations. These moves include a stated goal of shutting down 84 facilities and cutting 12,000 jobs. So far, the company has closed 78 facilities and eliminated 10,800 jobs. These policies were put into place during a time in which one of the men setting the direction was O'Sullivan Industries' million-dollar CEO Robert Parker.
One of those moves, detailed this month in The Turner Report, was the move of Newell Rubbermaid's corporate headquarters from Freeport, Illinois, to Atlanta. At that time, the company pledged that its facility in Rockford, Illinois, would see no layoffs for three years. Within a few months, that facility was closed and hundreds were unemployed.
The recent moves to eliminate officials at O'Sullivan Industries with strong Lamar ties does not bode well for the city. Nor does the climate in the nation which places the needs of faceless stockholders ahead of the needs of workers and communities.
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Jasper High School Principal Bill Hodge was one of those quoted in a Columbia Missourian article this week about inequities in the Foundation Formula used to fund Missouri public schools.
It was pointed out that one school had the money, thanks to the state, to build a rock climbing wall. Hodge said, "I'm not asking for a rock-climbing wall; I'm asking for a suitable place where our elementary and junio high kids can have adequate instruction."
It was noted in the article that Jasper students receive $5,500 less per year than the students in the schools which receive the most Foundation money. At the same time, it was also noted that Jasper schools are much better off than others in southwest Missouri, including McDonald County, which has the lowest per pupil rate, $4,560, in the state. A group of schools from across the state are suing the state to come up with a more equitable funding system.
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It has been overlooked locally as far as I can tell, but one of the architects of the Precious Moments collectibles boom retired this week. Eugene Freedman, CEO of Enesco, the company that distributes the teardrop-shaped figurines, retired at age 79. Freedman is credited with working with creator Sam Butcher to develop the Precious Moments line, which later helped turn Carthage into a tourist attraction.
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Neoshoforums.com has been abuzz with word that a complaint has been filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission against Newton County Sheriff Ron Doerge. Hopefully, I will be able to find out more later.
***
As always, anyone with news tips or stories can e-mail me at rturner229@hotmail.com or can send those or related documents to me at 2306 E. 8th, Joplin, MO. 64801.

One of the important duties of every state legislator is taking fact-finding missions to see first-hand some of the problems that face his constituents.
Apparently, 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter takes that obligation seriously. Though the nature of his fact-finding missions was not spelled out in documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Hunter accepted travel expenses from lobbyist Sarah Topp on three occasions this year. He accepted travel expenses from lobbyist William Gamble one other time.
Though Ms. Topp and Gamble represent a number of clients, including the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Ethics Commission records indicate the travel money to Hunter came courtesy of the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City. Ms. Topp and Gamble also represent all of the interests of Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based company which only recently moved its operations into this state.
On Jan. 22, Hunter accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, according to Ethics Commission records. He also accepted $91.32 in travel expenses, indicating he most likely went to the same place, as well as $125 for meals, food, and beverage from Ms. Topp on Feb. 20, $138 in travel expenses from her on March 8, and $455 for meals, food and beverage on March 20.
Hunter accepted an additional $250 in travel expenses from Gamble on Aug. 28, according to the Ethics Commission records. Legislators are allowed to amend the records if they pay the lobbyists back, though the original expenditure remains. The Ethics Commission records show that none of Ameristar Casinos' gifts to Hunter have been paid back.
Hunter was the only legislator to receive gifts from Ms. Topp in February and the only representative (there were three senators) who received gifts in March, records indicate.
The $1,150.64 Hunter received from the gambling interest is more money than any other area legislator has received from all lobbyists' gifts combined. And the gifts just keep coming.
Ethics Commission records indicate Hunter has been receiving "meals, food, and beverage" from a number of lobbyists on a fairly regular basis. These include:
-$84, Jan. 22 from William F. Waris and Ginger Steinmetz. Waris represents a number of health concerns, while Ms. Steinmetz is a lobbyist for the city of Joplin.
-$9.60 the same day from Michael Goessling, another lobbyists for health and insurance companies.
-$65 Feb. 17 from James Kistler representing Associated Industries of Missouri.
$43.69 March 2 from Kent Gaines. who represents Premium Standard Farms and Monsanto, among other interests.
-$124.16 on Feb. 18, and $67.26 on March 16 from Tom Rackers, who represents insurance interests.
-$30 March 30 from Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University lobbyist.
-$55.96 April 13 from Samuel Licklider, Empire District Electric lobbyist
-$35.50 the same day from David Martin, also representing Empire District.
-$64.50 April 26 from Greg Johnson, an insurance lobbyist.
-$46.38 May 5 from Daniel Mehan of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.
-$70 May 14 from Randy Scherr, city of Joplin.
Hunter also received $120.20 for "entertainment" from John Kristan Jones, an MCI lobbyist, on June 24, according to Ethics Commission records. He received $60 for "entertainment" from a Matthew Kohly on Jan. 24. Information on who Kohly represents wasn't available.
With the legislature in session for approximately 75 days between January and early May, Hunter received gifts of "meals, food, and beverage' from lobbyists on 30 days.
***
The drunk driving background of Southwest City's police chief appears to be more than what has been publicized.
In a lawsuit filed Friday, Sept. 24, in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the city's former police chief, Ron Beaudry claims that current chief Toi Canada was convicted of a "driving-related alcohol offense" on July 21, 1994, in Webb City, and on July 13, 2001, in Callaway County.
The information was included in Beaudry's lawsuit against Southwest City officials who fired him June 2, after he made an unsuccessful effort to fire Ms. Canada, who had been hired as a police officer.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the city of Southwest City, Mayor Al Dixon, and council members Farley Martin and Mildred Weaver. Beaudry noted in his petition that Ms. Canada is Martin's stepdaughter.
Beaudry was hired as police chief in June 2003, according to the petition. Ms. Canada was hired on a part-time basis last November.She was promoted to full-time status after a closed council meeting in March 2004, the petition says.
At that point, Beaudry conducted a background check and uncovered the alcohol-related offenses, he said. "On March 12, 2004," the petition says, "(Beaudry) received a fax from Angela Heckart, a representative with Beimdiek Insurance Agency, regarding the insurability of Ms. Canada." Ms. Heckart said Ms. Canada could not be insured because she had an alcohol-related driving offense in the three years before she was hired.
On March 30, the city received a fax saying that Ms. Canada was prohibited from using any city vehicle. At that point, Beaudry fired her. "On or about April 13, 2004," the petition said, "the city council refused to fire Canada, rehired her, and allowed her to operate her own vehicle to conduct police business."
On May 14, the council suspended Beaudry after he went public about his concerns about Ms. Canada, the petition said. On June 2, he was fired.
In the petition, Beaudry claims his First Amendment free speech rights were violated by the city officials. He is asking to be reinstated as police chief, to have all references to his suspension and firing removed from city files, and for damages and punitive damages. He is asking for a jury trial.

Hunter nears $1,000 mark in lobbyist gifts

Rep. Steve Hunter is up to his old tricks.
Documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website show the Joplin Republican received $928.62 worth of gifts from lobbyists during the first two months of 2007.
Despite this large amount, it appears Hunter is slowing down a bit since he received more than $1,000 worth of gifts in January 2006 alone.
Nevertheless, his total is far above the other five Joplin-area representatives.

Steve Hunter
During February, Hunter received $523.77 in gifts, led by $148.18 in travel and lodging on Feb. 7 from William A. Gamble, representing the Missouri Railroad Association, according to the Ethics Commission documents. Gamble is also the lobbyist for Ameristar Casinos, which longtime Turner Report readers will recall supplied Hunter with many gifts a few years back. After these gifts were reported on this blog, all of Hunter's gifts from lobbyists with Gamble's firm were reported as coming from other clients. Probably just a coincidence.
Hunter received gifts on 11 days during the month, including three meals on the same day he received the travel and lodging from Gamble. This included $11.86 from Jorgen Schlemeier, Gamble's partner, representing the Missouri Pharmacy Association, $27.25 from Samuel Licklider, Missouri Association of Realtors, and $29.22 from Richard McCullough, Missouri State Chiropractors Association.
Chris Liese, representing Isle of Capri Casinos paid for two meals for Hunter, totaling $104.55 on Feb. 13, according to the documents.

Ron Richard, R-Joplin
Richard, who has announced his candidacy for Speaker of the House, is second on the area list with $325.11 for the first two months, including $128.36 in February. The biggest expense, $39 came on Feb. 7 from James Harris, representing the J. Harris Company, LLC. Harris' other clients include Comcast.

Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin
Ms. Ruestman has $320.58 in 2007, with most of that, $243.37 coming on January 3 from Patricia Strader, Empire District Electric Company. She received $49.75 in February with $26 from David Martin, Empire District Electric Company, and $23.75 for a meal from Gary Burton, lobbying for Missouri Association of Insurance Agents.

Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City
Stevenson's gift total stands at $250.66 with $121.52 coming in February. The top gift, $31.56 was a meal provided by former Rep. Gary Marble, R-Neosho, who is now president of Associated Industries of Missouri.

Ed Emery, R-Lamar
Emery has recorded $205.85 in gifts with most of that, $153.93, coming in February.
On Feb. 12, Emery received $35 for a meal and $12.50 for travel from Travis Brown, representing something called Missourians for a Better Economy, which was registered with the state in January with little other information provided. Brown is also the lobbyist for AT&T and for K12, a supporter of educational vouchers and provider of materials for virtual schools.

Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho
Wilson has received $145.53, the lowest amount among area legislators, including $119.86 in February. The biggest gift, $62.21 for meals, food and beverage, came from Robert Wilson, Missouri Motor Carriers Association.

More lobbyists' gifts for Hunter

It didn't take Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, to make his next move at that coveted $3,000 mark in gifts received from lobbyists.
Missouri Ethics Commission documents indicate Hunter received $93.60 in meals, food, and beverage from Sarah Topp on Oct. 28, leaving him only four dollars and 79 cents short of $3,000 with two months of reports left to achieve the mark. His total of $2,995.21 is more than any other Missouri state representative. In addition to that money, as has been noted in this blog, Hunter is also a paid employee of Associated Industries of Missouri, a lobbying organization.
As I noted earlier this week, Hunter has received $1,130.34 cents since the 2005 session ended. A commenter noted that I was conveniently leaving out gifts legislators received during the veto session, as if that is some type of excuse for continuing to gobble up all of the meals the lobbyists offer.
Ethics Commission records show that Hunter received only $44.80 during the time the House returned to session.
If the name of the lobbyist whose gift was the latest reported to the Ethics Commission sounds familiar, that should come as no surprise. Sarah Topp is a lobbyist for the utility giant Ameren and numerous other interest groups, but nearly all of her gifts to Hunter have come in her position as a lobbyist for Ameristar Casinos. Hunter's background with Ameristar was related in previous editions of The Turner Report.

Lobbyists give Hunter more than rest of area legislators combined

Only two months of lobbyist disclosure forms have been filed for 2006, but already Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, has picked up $1,188.54 in gifts, more than in the first two months of 2004 and 2005. In those years, Hunter collected $1,059 and $528.19.
February disclosure forms filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, show Hunter received $424.40 worth of gifts during the month. The top amount, $196 for "entertainment" on Feb. 11 came from Jorgen Schlemeier, whose clients included Ameristar Casinos, Ameren UE, the Missouri Pharmacy Association, and the Missouri Beverage Association.
Hunter also received the following amounts:
-$40.13 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 2, Richard C. Wiles, Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association
-$57.74 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 2, Jewell Patek, Patek & Associates, Sprint Nextel
-$9 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 7, James W. Kistler, Associated Industries of Missouri (Hunter is also an employee of Associated Industries, a lobbying firm, working as a membership recruiter.)
-$9.83 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 14, Guy William Black, Bryan Cave LLP, Transcanada Corp.
-$7.50 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 15, James E. Farrell, Missouri Coalition for Preservation and Economic Development, Center for Emerging Technologies, several St. Louis interests. The $7.50 from Farrell makes $390.50 worth of gifts Hunter has accepted from the lobbyist. On Jan. 27, he accepted $375 for three listings of "entertainment." Hunter also had an $9 meal from Farrell on Jan. 9.
-$11.06, meals, food and beverage, Michael Dallmeyer, American Insurance Association
-$78.24, meals, food and beverage, Wiles
-$15, meals, food and beverage, James Wallace Knowles, Independent Electrical Contractors Association of Greater St. Louis
***
Hunter's total of $1,188.54 was more than our five other area legislators, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, combined. Those five, led by Stevenson's $507.09, combined for $1.089.77 in lobbyists' gifts during the first two months.
Ed Emery- Emery did not receive any gifts from lobbyists in February and only received $26.50 in January, according to Ethics Commission records.
Ron Richard- Ethics Commission documents show $413.24 in gifts for Richard, including $168.06 in February. The top amount was $41.16 for meals, food and beverage on Feb. 13 from Chris Liese, former State Rep. Gary Burton's lobbying partner. Liese's clients include Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association, the city of Joplin, and Isle of Capri casinos. Richard also received $27.10 for meals, food and beverage from David Martin of Empire District Electric Company on Feb. 14.
Marilyn Ruestman- Ms. Ruestman, like Emery, did not receive any gifts from lobbyists in February, according to the documents.
Kevin Wilson- Wilson only received $35.19 for meals, food and beverage from Robert Wilson, Missouri Outdoor Advertising Association, Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers, and Missouri Motor Carriers Association.
Bryan Stevenson- Stevenson reported $425 for the month, with most of that, $400, coming from Catherine Barrie, Missouri Bar Association on Feb. 14 for printing and publication and $23 the same day for meals, food and beverage from Kyna Iman, lobbyist for Missouri Southern State University.

Globe should examine Hunter record

Seth Jackson's letter to the editor in the Thursday Joplin Globe reminded me of how far the Globe falls short some time in its duty to the public.
Jackson addressed the fact that Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, received $973.31 in gifts from lobbyists during the month of May alone.
That was the first mention of this in the Globe. While I commend Jackson for bringing it to the Globe editors' attention, he should not have to do that. With the exception of The Turner Report, there has been no effort made by any local media to explore the amount of gifts being received by local politicians and the possible effect they have on votes and legislation.
As I pointed out, the $973.31 Hunter received in May would have placed him in the top 20 among all representatives...for the first five months of 2005. Unless you read The Turner Report, you had no idea that Hunter has received more gifts from lobbyists than any other Missouri representative during this calendar year.
The Globe was one of the first publications to point out Hunter's conflict of interest, promoting pro-business legislation while being paid by a lobbying organization, Associated Industries, that far from coincidentally is pushing the same legislation that Hunter is sponsoring. Then it just dropped it. And that conflict of interest was never more in evidence than in the 2005 legislative session.
It was never mentioned in the Globe when Hunter did his victory lap around the state, visiting eight cities for Associated Industries to talk about the worker's compensation law that he sponsored.
It was never mentioned in the Globe when Hunter accepted more gifts in 2004 from lobbyists from Ameristar Casinos than most legislators accepted from all lobbyists put together.
I don't recall it being mentioned in the Globe when area representatives Hunter, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, Bryan Steverson, R-Webb City, and Ron Richard, R-Joplin, voted against an amendment which would have cut representatives' insurance benefits...even though they were voting to cut Medicaid benefits for many poor Missourians. It should be pointed out that Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, and Ed Emery, R-Lamar, did vote to cut their health coverage, but the vote fell a couple of votes short.
While I appreciate the efforts the Globe has made in representing the average citizen as far as Joplin city government is concerned, a newspaper with the Globe's stature can have a tremendous effect if it also turns its attention to state government, and especially the performance of our local representatives and senators.
It should not take a letter to the editor from Seth Jackson to get these facts out to the public.

Casino lobbyist pays for Hunters to see Tina Turner

Steve Hunter is just a little more than a month from the end of his eight years as a state representative, but the Joplin Republican is still piling up the lobbyists' gifts up until the last moment. For the first 10 months of 2008, Hunter has picked up $2,466.69 worth of lobbyists' gifts.

Documents just posted on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate Hunter and his wife, Jasper County Public Administrator (for the next month) Rita Hunter, received $320 worth of tickets to R&B legend Tina Turner's Oct. 8 concert at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

The freebies were paid for by lobbyist William Gamble of the firm of Gamble & Schlemeier, which numbers among its clients Ameristar Casinos. Though Hunter's gifts from Ameristar have been noted numerous times in The Turner Report, Gamble's report indicates the cost for the tickets was split among the Missouri Beverage Association, Missouri Psychological Association, Missouri Dental Association, Missouri Beverage Association, Missouri Pharmacy Association, Missouri College of Emergency Physicians, and the Missouri Residential Care Association.

The video accompanying this post is a short snippet of Tina Turner's Oct. 8 performance:

Hunter piles up more lobbyists' gifts

Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, is up to his old tricks again.
Disclosure documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate Hunter received a higher amount of gifts from lobbyists in March than the other five Joplin-area representatives combined.
The top name on Hunter's list is a familiar one. He received concert tickets worth $216 from Ameristar Casinos lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier on March 31. Hunter's total of $700.48 for the month, also included an additional $87.99 from lobbyists for gambling interests, according to the documents, all involving meals from Isle of Capri lobbyists.
On one especially productive day, March 27, Hunter received meals from 13 lobbyists, representing such interests as Merck, Astra Zeneca, Lewis, Rice & Fingeroth, LLC, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Governmental Services Group, Harmony Health Plan, Empire District Electric Company, Isle of Capri Casinos, Steinmetz Consulting, and Missouri Automobile Dealers Association.
For the 2007 calendar year, Hunter has received $1,752 in lobbyist gifts.

His $700.48 tops the combined total of Ed Emery, R-Lamar, $194.16: Ron Richard, R. Joplin, $194.42; Marilyn Ruestman, R. Joplin, $98.93; Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, $89.01, and Kevin Wilson, R. Neosho, $85.39.

Hunter has more lobbyists' gifts than other area legislators combined

Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, added another $537.18 in gifts from lobbyists to his total, already one of the tops in the state, during March, according to documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website. That brings him to $1,728.99 for the first three months of 2006.
Hunter's total is about $200 more than the $1,550.74 his fellow area legislators Ed Emery, Ron Richard, Marilyn Ruestman, Bryan Stevenson, Kevin Wilson, and Gary Nodler combined.
The biggest amount, $342.26 for travel, came March 16 from William A. Gamble, apparently listed as coming from the Missouri Beverage Association, though Gamble has a host of clients, including Ameristar Casinos and Ameren UE.
Hunter also received $24 for meals, food and beverage from Sarah Topp, a lobbyist in Gamble's firm, on March 10. That, too, apparently came from the Missouri Beverage Association, according to the documents.
Among the other lobbyists adding to Hunter's total were:
-James Farrell, Missouri Coalition for Preservation and Economic Development, $40.25 for meals, food and beverage on March 8
-Drue Duncan, Ameren UE, $15.09 for meals on March 9.
-John Kristan Jones, $7.29 for meals on March 15
-Ginger Steinmetz, listed as Steinmetz Consulting, $21.40 for meals on March 29.
-Richard C. Wiles, Missouri Cable Telecommunications, $72.89 for meals, food and beverage on March 1. On the same day, Hunter received a gift worth $14 from Gregory Harrison, another lobbyist for the cable interest.
Ed Emery
You could take the amount of lobbyists' gifts Ed Emery, R-Lamar, has received for the entire calendar year, $40.15, multiply it by eight and still have less than Hunter received for travel from William A. Gamble on March 16.
Emery's only listing for March, a $14 gift from Harrison from Missouri Cable Telecommunications, came on the first day of the month.
Ron Richard
Ron Richard, R-Joplin, received $162.03 in gifts during March, bringing him to $575.27 for 2006. He also was a recipient of the Missouri Cable Telecommunications blitz on March 1, picking up $72.89 in meals from Richard C. Wiles and that $14 gift from Harrison.
Richard also received a $44.63 meal from James Bantham of CitiGroup Management March 15, and $30.51 for meals from Joseph Treadway of First Guard Health Plan March 29.
Marilyn Ruestman
Ms. Ruestman, R-Joplin, has received $81.72 worth of gifts from lobbyists this year, according to the Ethics Commission documents. In March, her total was $22, the $14 gift from Harrison, and an $8 meal from Sarah Topp of Missouri Beverage Association.
Bryan Stevenson
Stevenson reported only one gift for March, the same $14 gift from Harrison, bringing the Webb City Republican's total to $521.09 for the year.
Kevin Wilson
Chalk up the same $14 gift from Harrison for Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho. Otherwise, Wilson received no lobbyist gifts in March, and has a total of $112.21 for 2006.
Gary Nodler
Nodler's only gift was the same $14 one from Harrison, according to the documents. He has received $210.30 for the year.

The greatest gift is receiving

Earlier editions of The Turner Report Friday and today listed the 20 representatives who received the most gifts from lobbyists during the 2005 General Assembly session, led by Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, with $2,364.80.
The gifts he received were examined during a posting earlier today. Now it's time to examine the records of the rest of the top 20. You might find some clear connections with the type of legislation that was passed during the recently-completed session.
No. 2- Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, $2,266.81- During a three-day period, March 15-17, Cooper received more than $800 worth of gifts from lobbyists. On March 15, he received $600 described as "entertainment" from Allen James Snider, lobbyist for the University of Missouri, and $13.20 in "meals, food and beverage from Sarah Topp, lobbyist for Ameristar Casinos.Two days later, three lobbyists, all representing Ameristar, William Gamble, Jorgen Schleiman and Betsy Morgan, each gave him $79.41 worth of gifts. Gamble and Schleiman's gifts were listed as "travel" while Ms. Morgan's was "meals, food and beverage." Cooper also received $138.89 in gifts, $87.50 for entertainment, and $51.39 for meals, food and beverage from James E. Farrell, lobbyist for the city of St. Louis.
No. 3- Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis, $2,047.24- Ms. Johnson got the first week of the session off to a rousing start, with $575 in meals, food and beverage from William Gamble of Ameristar on Jan. 7, $131.78 in meals from Samuel Licklider, lobbyist for Empire District Electric Company on Jan. 8, $118.50 in meals from John Bardgett, representing the Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities on Jan. 10, then $101.58, including $54 for a meal and $47.58 for another meal from Richard Wiles, Missouri Soft Drink Association on Jan. 12. Other big-ticket items for Ms. Johnson include $147.60, meals, food and beverage, Anheuser-Busch; $106.23, meals, Cheryl Dozier, Alliance for School Choice; $100, Sara Schuett, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; $275, meals, Catherine Barrie, Missouri Bar; $103.25, Rodney Gray, City of Branson and insurance interests. Ms. Johnson's meals were taken care of for three straight days, March 18, 19, and 20, by former State Representative Jerry Burch, lobbyist for the Missouri Hospital Association and Southwest Missouri State University, with each meal listed at $95.56. Fine eating if you can get it.
No. 4- Wes Wagner, D-DeSoto, $1,908.78- Wagner accepted $235.86 in meals from James R. Moody, lobbyist for Holcim, Inc., on Jan. 10, and $500 in entertainment from Rodney D. Forth of Anheuser-Busch on April 1.
No. 5- Richard Byrd, R-Kirkwood, $1,686.24- Byrd, recognized as the driving force behind tort reform, died of a heart attack May 13. On March 23, Byrd received $480, broken into four $120 installments for travel from Ameristar Casino lobbyists William Gamble, Jorgen Schleiman, Betsy Morgan, and Sarah Topp. On April 2, Byrd received $357.40 in gifts, including $170 for entertainment and $187.40 for meals from John Sondag of Southwestern Bell. The next day, it was $120 in meals from Mel Nicholson, SSM Healthcare.
No. 6- Mark Wright, R-Springfield, $1,682.68- The lobbyists' gifts didn't end when the legislative session ended for Wright, who received $240 in entertainment from John Bardgett, Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities on May 24. He also received $261.90 described as "gift" from Chip Mason, lobbyist for the Herschend family and their Silver Dollar City business on March 26 and $152.80 for meals from Mary Strate, Missouri Beer Wholesalers.
No. 7- Bob Behnen, R-Kirksville, $1,669.85- Meet Bob Behnen, the hungriest man in Jefferson City. On Jan. 10, Behnen received meals from the following lobbyists: Kent Gaines, Monsanto, $200; William Gamble, Ameristar Casinos, $200; David Winton, Family Resource Center, $100; Brad Thielemier, Missouri State Troopers Association, $68.20; and Ralph Cupelli, Truman State University, $65. If you haven't been counting, that's $633.20.
No. 8- Thomas George, D-Florissant, $1,425.97- The unions kept Rep. George happy. He received $139.32 in meals on Jan. 5, and $105.17 in meals three days later from Herb Johnson of AFL-CIO. He also received $73.73 in entertainment from John Britton, Anheuser-Busch on Jan. 21, and $212.29 in meals, food and beverage from Mary Strate, Missouri Beer Wholesalers Jan. 27.
No. 9- Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, $1,361.51- Close to half of Stevenson's total, $635 came from Stephen M. Murrell, Missouri Bar, for "printing and publication." Stevenson also received $186.08 in meals from Mark J. Rhoads, Herzog and Rhoads, Jan. 10, and $186.08 in meals from from Kathryn Ann Harness, St. Luke's Health System on the same day. He received a third meal, a little cheaper, $44 from Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University, on the same day.
No. 10- Fred Kratky, D-St. Louis, $1,324.53- Empire District Electric's lobbyist, Samuel Licklider, paid a total of $502.61 for three "meals, food and beverage" for Kratky. Mary Strate supplied $231. 84 worth of meals, food and most likely beverage, for the Missouri Beer Wholesalers.
No. 11- Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, $1,318.89- The House Speaker, who receives profuse praise from Joplin Globe Editor Edgar Simpson in the Sunday, June 12, edition, appears to have made a couple of gambling excursions courtesy of William A. Gamble of Ameristar Casinos. Ethics Commission reports show Gamble paying $247 for travel for Jetton on Feb. 5, and an additional $113.98 for travel on Feb. 18. SBC took over the job of entertaining the speaker on March 13 with Marsha Haskell footing the bill for $220 worth of "entertainment." Jetton started out his tort reforming year with $223.59 in meals from Randy Scherr, lobbyist for several health interests on Jan. 25.
No. 12- Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, $1,217.30- The largest item on Wildberger's plate was $501.65 from John M. Corbett, Missouri State Council of Firefighters for meals, food and beverage on Jan. 28. Herzog and Rhoads lobbyists Datra Herzog and Mark J. Rhoads, each supplied Wildberger with $113.11 in meals, food and beverage May 12.
No. 13- Ron Richard, R-Joplin, $1,202.34- The universities kept Richard supplied with gifts. He received $120 March 6, $120 Jan. 29, and $56 Jan. 4, all for entertainment from Allen James Snider, University of Missouri. Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University supplied $100 in meals, food and beverage Jan. 10.
No. 14- Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, $1,199.69- The health interests paid big bucks to Goodman, with Jerry Burch, representing Missouri Hospital Association providing $156.44 in meals, food and beverage Jan. 10, the same day that Francis Flotron, Missouri Hospital Association, provided an additional $156.44 for the same thing, and Kathryn Ann Harness of Metro St. Louis provided the far cheaper $156.43 in meal, food and beverage.
No. 15- Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, $1,155.12- Hobbs was also a prime recipient of the health interests' largesse, receiving $66.66 for meal, food and beverage from John Bardgett, Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Jan. 10, the same day he received $200 from Francis Flotron of Missouri Hospital Association for the same purpose.
No. 16- Jim Avery, R-Crestwood, $1,148.95- It was mostly entertainment for Avery, who received $85 for entertainment and $9.370 for meal, food and beverage from John Sondag, SBC, on April 2. Thomas Irwin, St Louis Chamber and Regional Growth Association, paid $84 for entertainment on April 10 and $168 for it on May 8. After the session was over, on May 25, Gene Maggard of SBC paid $125 for entertainment for Avery.
No. 17- Joe Smith, R-St. Charles, $1,147.06- Smith received $200 from Francis Flotron, Missouri Hospital Association, for meal, food and beverage on Jan. 10.
No. 18- Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, $1,108.54- More than half of Yates' total, $600 was for entertainment from Allen James Snider of MU on March 10.
No. 19- Mike Sutherland, R-Warrenton, $1,080.49- Sutherland received a $116 "gift" from Chris Liese, former state representative Gary Burton, R-Joplin's lobbying partner. The Ethics Commission report does not specifically list which business Liese was representing, but he and Burton are into everything from insurance to education to casinos.
No. 20- Leonard Hughes, D-Kansas City, $1,045.58- Hughes' big-ticket items included $240.80 for meal from Dawn Heidbreder, Missouri Energy Development Association Jan. 25, and $348.75 in meals, from Patrick Lynn, Lynn Governmental Solutions April 20. Lynn was a top aide to former Governor Bob Holden.

Hunter back on top

State Representative Steve Hunter is back up to his old tricks.
Only one month has passed in the 2006 General Assembly and already the Joplin Republican has accepted $764.04 in gifts from lobbyists, more than his fellow area representatives Ed Emery, R-Lamar, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho and Senator Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, combined, according to Missouri Ethics Commission documents.
Apparently, no one has told Hunter, who has a sideline job as a membership recruiter for Associated Industries of Missouri, a lobbying organization, that coziness with lobbyists is not too fashionable during these days of Abramoff.
Nearly half of Hunter's gift total came in the form of entertainment from City of St. Louis lobbyist James E. Farrell, three such instances, each totaling $125, were recorded Jan. 27, according to the documents.
Other lobbyists contributing to Hunter's horn of plenty included:
-William Gamble, Ameren, Ameristar Casinos, and Missouri Railroad Association, among others, $22 meal, Jan. 3
-Samuel Licklider, Empire District Electric Company, $21.98 meal, Jan. 4.
-Farrell, $8 meal, Jan. 9
-Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University, $100, meals, food and beverage, Jan. 11
-Gary Burton, City of Joplin, Isle of Capri casinos, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents, among others, $89.62, meals, food and beverage, Jan. 17.
-Scott Swain, Verizon, $30 meal, Jan. 19.
-David Smith, Blue Cross Blue Shield, $23.27 meal, Jan. 19.
-Brad Thielemier, Missouri State Troopers Association, $23.27 meal, Jan. 20
-Joseph Thompson, Missouri Gas Energy, AT&T, $25.50 meal, Jan. 24
-Fred Dreiling, Harrah's Casinos, AFLAC, among others, $31 meal, Jan. 30
Other Area Legislators
Gifts received by other area legislators included:
Kevin Wilson- Wilson received $88.98 in gifts from five lobbyists, topped by a $22.20 meal from Sherry Doctorian of Armstrong Teasdale on Jan. 25. Other lobbyists buying gifts for Wilson represented AT&T, Guaranty Land Title Title Insurance, Missouri School Boards Association, the Judicial Conference of Missouri, and the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Bryan Stevenson- Stevenson collected $104.29 from five lobbyists, led by a $35 meal from Kyna Iman of MSSU. He also accepted gifts from lobbyists representing Aquila, Judicial Conference of Missouri, Supreme Court of Missouri, and Armstrong Teasdale.
Marilyn Ruestman- Ms. Ruestman's $81.92 in gifts came from two lobbyists, $59.72 from Gary Burton, and $22.20 from Sherry Doctorian.
Ron Richard- Richard ranked second among area legislators with $225.18 in gifts, topped by a $106.47 meal on Jan. 18 from Patricia Strader of Empire District Electric. He had two meals from Gary Burton, one for $26.66 on Jan. 4, and the other for $83.18 on Jan. 17.
Ed Emery- Emery picked up $48.70 from two lobbyists, $26.50 for meals from Drue Duncan representing Ameren and $22.20 from Ms. Doctorian.
Gary Nodler- Nodler ranked number three among area legislators with $173.15, topped by a $91.171 meal from Burton on Jan. 17. The next day, Nodler accepted $16.66 in meals, food and beverage from David J. Klarich, lobbyist for MOHELA. Other gifts came from lobbyists representing AT&T, Supreme Court of Missouri, Judicial Conference of Missouri, Great Plains Insurance, Kansas City Power & Light, Missouri School Boards Association, and Empire District Electric Company.

Stevenson reaches the $2,000 club

Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, has reached the $2,000 mark in the amount of gifts received from lobbyists, according to reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Only a handful of state representatives have reached the $2,000 mark, led by Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, who is only about five dollars short of $3,000.
A big chunk of his most recent gifts come from lobbyists associated with Ameristar Casinos, the disclosure reports indicate. On Oct. 20, Stevenson received four gifts, each worth $63.18 from Ameristar lobbyists, including $63.18 each from William A. Gamble, Jorgen Schlemeier, and Sarah Topp. The fourth lobbyist, Betsy Morgan, paid $63.18 for meals, food and beverage, according to the report.
Gamble also gifted Stevenson with $224.80 for travel on Sept. 21, the Ethics Commission documents said. Gamble's reports indicate that money was not in service of Ameristar, but of the Missouri Railroad Association. Whatever the trip was, it wasn't just for Stevenson, the report said. Gamble also reported paying $224.80 for Stevenson's wife.

Of course, their votes aren't for sale

(The following is my column from the Thursday Newton County News.)

Country fans who have seen him perform live, tell me Kenny Chesney really puts on a show. I will take them at their word. I know that when it comes to country music, Chesney is perhaps the most successful touring artist of the past few years.
So when he came to the Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia May 18, tickets were sold for premium prices, with top-flight, close-to-the-action tickets going for $69 apiece.
That was the type of high-priced gift MU lobbyist Stephen Knorr took around the state capital earlier that day, the last day of the 2007 General Assembly.
Whether he saw them or not, I do know that the elected officials who represent the Newton County News publishing area, Sen. Gary Nodler, Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, and Rep. Kevin Wilson did not accept any of the tickets. In fact, when it comes to accepting lobbyists' gifts, Mrs. Ruestman and Wilson are down at the bottom of the list. They simply don't accept much from lobbyists. And Nodler is nowhere near the head of the pack when it comes to the State Senate's gift grabbers.
I would like to be able to tell you that no elected officials accepted these high-priced freebies. After all, Missouri taxpayers pay our senators and representatives $31,000 a year, and $75 per day for meal money, plus expenses, while they stay in Jefferson City four days per week from January through the middle of May.
The people of Granby, Newtonia, Diamond, Neosho, Stark City, and all of the other communities served by this newspaper, for the most part do not have the money to try to influence our elected officials with meals, drinks, travel, entertainment, and other gifts.
By the time Stephen Knorr made the rounds in Jefferson City, he found takers for $1,725 worth of tickets, or 25 tickets. Two of those who accepted the tickets, Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and John Fourgere of Attorney General Jay Nixon's office, reimbursed Knorr for their tickets (five weeks after the concert and just before the information was posted on the Missouri Ethics Commission website).
These are the people who simply accepted the remaining $1,587 worth of tickets:
Rep. Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, took five; one apiece for Speaker of the House Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill and his wife Cassie; Rep. Kenny Jones, R-California, took two tickets; Rep. Tom Dempsey, R-St Charles, Dempsey's wife Molly, Rep. Carl Bearden, St. Charles, Bearden's wife Debbie, Rep. Timothy Jones, R-Eureka, Rep. Robert Mayer, R-Dexter; and Mayer's wife Nancy received one apiece.
Gus Wagner, who works in the office of Sen. Dan Clemons, R-Marshfield, grabbed four tickets.
And bringing it close to home, Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, and his wife, Jasper County Public Administrator Rita Hunter, also latched onto the tickets.
For the past three decades, I have had politicians tell me that a lobbyist paying for a meal or giving free tickets is not going to influence the way they vote. Sometimes, I really think they believe that. But it certainily builds good will and offers special interests access that the rest of us do not have.
One last note: I mentioned earlier in the column that Rep. Shannon Cooper, the chairman of the House Rules Committee, took five tickets, worth $345. On the same day, Cooper accepted $329.43 worth of travel and lodging from lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier, whose client list includes Ameristar Casinos, which was listed as paying for the trip. So far this year, Cooper has accepted more than $2,600 worth of gifts from lobbyists.
I'm sure Cooper would be the first to tell you that $2,600 worth of gifts aren't going to change the way he votes.
And maybe he really believes it

Stevenson tops area legislators in May gifts from lobbyists

Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, more than doubled his lobbyist gift total for 2008 during May, according to documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website.
Stevenson, who had received $287.93 during the first four months of 2008, collected $505.22 in gifts during May, the documents indicated.
Most of that amount came from Ameristar Casino lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier, though his disclosure documents spread the wealth among five other Gamble & Schlemeier clients, imcluding the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians and the Missouri Pharmacy Association. The five clients paid $50 for a meal, $100 in certificates listed as "entertainment," and $240 for "hotel accomodations."

Runner-up to Stevenson, and the top gift recipient for the year is Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, who received $382.07 in gifts in May, bringing his 2008 total to $2,239.59. Hunter's gifts included $142.56 on May 15 for meals from Phillip Schnieders of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association.

Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who has $1,551.28 for the year, received $153.27 in gifts during May, including a $55.97 meal from Rodney Boyd, lobbyist for Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal on May 27.

Ed Emery, R-Lamar, picked up $126.77 in May, upping his 2008 haul to $867.55. His big ticket gifts were a $35 meal from Missouri Southern State University lobbyist Kyna Iman on May 7, and a $31.35 meal from Larry Cole, Cornerstone Health, the following day.

Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, has $557.63 for the year, including $58.92 in May, and Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, has the smallest total of gifts for the first five months, $402.25, with $97.30 of that coming in May, including a $51.09 meal May 15 from Robert W. Wilson, lobbyist for the Missouri Motor Carriers Association.

Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, has received a higher dollar value of gifts from lobbyists than any other state representative this year, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
Stevenson has received $1,172.13 worth of gifts from lobbyists. He is one of only two representatives to crack the $1,000 mark during the first two months of the 2005 legislative session.
More than half of Stevenson's total, $635, is listed as "printing and publication" provided by lobbyists Stephen M. Murrell of the Missouri Bar Association.
Stevenson also received more than $200 from the lobbying firm of Rhoads & Herzog, which promotes a business-centered government. He received $186.08 from Mark J. Rhoads on Jan. 10, and $35.39 from Datra Herzog on Feb. 21. Both expenditures were for "meals, food, and beverage," according to the reports, which do not go into specifics in the on-line version.
Stevenson also received $32.72 from Chris Liese for meals, food, and beverage, on Jan. 5. Liese's clients include Cottonwood Financial and the Isle of Capri Casinos.
Stevenson was not the only area legislator to garner lobbyists' attention. Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Carl Junction, and Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, were both among the top 10 in the state as far as total received from lobbyists, according to the Ethics Commission records.
Richard received $720.81 worth of gifts, with the largest, $120, coming from University of Missouri lobbyist Allen James Snider for entertainment on Jan. 29. Richard received an additional $56 from Snider for the same purpose on Jan. 4. and $100 from Kyna Iman of Missouri Southern State University for meals, food, and beverage on Jan. 10.
Other lobbyists and the amounts provided to Richard included: L. Kent Gaines, Kansas City Chiefs, $44.79, Jan. 5; John E. Bardgett Jr, John Bardgett and Associates and Missouri Association of Rehabilitation, $66.66 on Jan. 10, Gary L. Burton, Gary Burton and Associates, $66.66, meals, food, and beverage, on Jan. 11, Chris Liese, Cottonwood Financial, Isle of Capri Casinos, $67.10, meals, food, and beverage, Jan. 24.
Lobbyists and amounts provided to Hunter include: Robert W. Wilson, Missouri Motor Carriers Association, Missouri Outdoor Advertising, $159.09, meals, food, and beverage, Jan. 10; Russell Gunn, L. S. Hart and Co., $50, meals, food, and beverage, Feb. 8, J. Scott Marrs, Missouri Hospital Association, $112.59, meals, food, and beverage, Feb. 14, William Gamble, Ameristar Casinos, travel, $188.84, Feb. 17.
Ruestman has received $545.47, also ranking among the top in the state, including: $302 from David E. Martin of Empire District Electric Company for meals, food, and beverage on Jan. 10, and $159.09 from Robert W. Wilson of Missouri Motor Cars Association and Missouri Outdoor Advertising for the same thing on the same day.
The other area legislators, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, are far down the list in the amount received from lobbyists. Wilson has only received gifts totaling $145 from two lobbyists, according to the Ethics Commission reports, $112.28, classified as "other" from Kelly Gillespie of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and $32.72, for meals, food, and beverage from Chris Liese of Cottonwood Financial and the Isle of Capri Casino.
Emery has received $179.20 worth of gifts, including $120 for meals, food, and beverage Jan. 10 from Patricia Strader of Empire District Electric Company.